This matter came to light through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by two non-governmental organizations: the Save Mon Region Federation and the Voluntary Arunachal Sena. The petition alleged that government contracts worth approximately ₹1,270 crore were awarded to individuals linked to the Chief Minister’s family.
अरुणाचल CM पेमा खांडू को सुप्रीम कोर्ट का झटका, परिवार से जुड़े ठेकों की सीबीआई जांच के आदेश
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has landed in trouble amidst allegations that government contracts were awarded to individuals linked to his family. Today, the Supreme Court directed the CBI to initiate a preliminary inquiry into alleged irregularities concerning government contracts in Arunachal Pradesh. This matter specifically pertains to allegations claiming that contracts were awarded to individuals associated with Chief Minister Pema Khandu’s family.
This order was issued by a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice NV Anjaria. The Court explicitly directed the CBI to register a preliminary inquiry within two weeks and proceed further in accordance with the law. The Court also clarified that the scope of the investigation would be confined to government contracts, work orders, and their execution awarded between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025. However, should the need arise, the CBI is empowered to examine transactions falling outside this timeframe—particularly to ascertain the true beneficiaries, identify the interconnections between individuals, and trace the flow of funds.
The matter came to light through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by two non-governmental organizations: the Save Mon Region Federation and the Voluntary Arunachal Sena. The petition alleged that government contracts worth approximately ₹1,270 crore were awarded to individuals linked to the Chief Minister’s family. During the hearing, Senior Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing on behalf of the petitioners, argued that numerous contracts were awarded by bypassing established norms. He further alleged that in several instances, the open tendering process was not adhered to—a practice that runs counter to the principles of transparency.
The Court has also directed the CBI to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the tendering process, the procedures adopted for granting approvals, the grounds cited for granting exemptions from open tenders, and the extent of compliance with statutory regulations. Additionally, all documents pertaining to payments, work orders, and the execution of projects are to be subjected to scrutiny. The Supreme Court further directed the CBI to file a status report within 16 weeks, indicating whether a completely independent and comprehensive investigation is warranted in this matter.
The State Government has also been ordered to extend its full cooperation to this investigation. The Court directed the Chief Secretary to appoint a nodal officer within one week to coordinate with the CBI. Furthermore, all necessary documents—such as tender papers, records related to approvals, agreements, bills, and e-procurement data—must be handed over to the CBI within four weeks. Most importantly, the Court issued clear directives that no documents pertaining to this case—whether in physical or digital format—are to be destroyed or altered in any manner.
However, the Supreme Court also clarified that these directives are issued solely to determine whether an independent investigation is necessary. This does not imply that the Court has validated or refuted any specific allegations, nor will it prejudice any individual in future proceedings. Prior to this, in March of last year, the Supreme Court had directed the Government of Arunachal Pradesh to submit a detailed affidavit regarding all contracts and had also sought a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Subsequently, in December 2025, the scope of the investigation was expanded to cover the entire state, based on the premise that the matter was not confined solely to Tawang.
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